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Results tagged ‘ Minor League Report ’

Welcome to the first installment of the 2015 Minor League report, courtesy of the Nationals Baseball Communications department. All the information below reflects games played from the start of the season through yesterday (April 28).

Here are a few highlights:

TOP PERFORMER

PEDRO SEVERINO – C – HARRISBURG SENATORS

After starting the season mired in an 0-for-22 sump, C Pedro Severino is 17-for-31 (.548) with two doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI, five walks and nine runs scored in his last nine games dating to April 17…On April 27 vs. New Britain (COL), the 21-year-old clubbed two home runs while going 3-for-4 in Harrisburg’s 13-6 defeat to the Rock Cats…Severino leads the Senators and ranks ninth in the Eastern League with 12 RBI…He also paces Harrisburg in average (.321), on-base percentage (379), slugging percentage (.472) and OPS (.851)…His .321 average ranks second in the Nationals’ chain, while his 12 RBI are good for third…Behind the plate, Severino has thrown out nine of 12 baserunners attempting to steal…Baseball America considers him the “Best Defensive Catcher” in the Nationals’ chain…Severino was signed as a non-drafted free agent, December 10, 2010 out of Bonao, Dominican Republic.

SYRACUSE CHIEFS (AAA – International League)

Overall Record: 6-13

Standing – Games Back: 5th place, -6.5, International League North

CUT TO THE CHASE: INF Cutter Dykstra has reached base safely in 14 of 15 games to start the 2015 season…During this stretch, Dykstra has posted a .400 on-base percentage while hitting .250 (11-for-44) with one home run, three RBI, 10 walks and four runs scored…He clubbed his first home run of the season, April 26 at ROC (MIN).

HARRISBURG SENATORS (AA – Eastern League)

Overall Record: 8-11

Standing – Games Back: 4th place, -4.0, Eastern League Western

NOT-SO-AVERAGE JOE: With 24, RHP Joe Ross leads all Nationals farmhands and ranks third in the Eastern League in strikeouts…His 24 strikeouts also rank ninth in all of Double-A…In his last start, April 25 vs. Reading (PHI), the 21-year-old struck out eight in 7.0 innings of two-hit, shutout ball…On the year, Ross is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA (8 ER/20.0 IP)…Ross, a former first round pick in 2011, was acquired from San Diego along with a player to be named later in a three-team trade that sent OF Steven Souza Jr. to Tampa Bay.

POTOMAC NATIONALS (Advanced-A – Carolina League)

Overall Record: 9-10

Standing – Games Back: T3rd place, -2.0, Carolina League Northern

SIMPLY OFFENSIVE: INF Wilmer Difo leads the P-Nats, ranks third among Nationals farmhands and seventh in the Carolina League with a .320 batting average (24-for-75)…Through 19 games, the 23-year-old leads the Carolina League with seven doubles and leads all Washington Minor Leaguers with three home runs (T2nd in Carolina League) and 14 RBI (T3rd in Carolina League)…He also ranks in the top 10 among Carolina League hitters in slugging percentage (5th, .533), on-base percentage (9th, .386) and OPS (5th, .919)…Difo is rated as the No. 7 prospect in Washington’s chain, according to Baseball America.

LEADING MAN: RHP Austen Williams leads all Nationals Minor Leaguers in ERA (0.83) and is tied for the lead in wins (3)…Williams’ three wins are tied for the most in the South Atlantic League, while his 0.83 ERA (2 ER/21.2 IP) is good for fourth…He also ranks second in the organization with 20 strikeouts…Williams dropped his first start of the season, but has since won three in a row, posting a 0.51 ERA (1 ER/17.2 IP) with 11 hits and a .180 average against him along the way…Williams was selected in the sixth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas State University.

Welcome to the 2014 Minor League Report, a comprehensive collection of notes from the Washington Nationals PR staff that highlights the outstanding performers in the Nationals’ Minor League system through the season’s first few weeks.

To view this report on your full screen, please click the icon in the bottom right corner of the notes.

The Nationals Minor League report (MLR 7-28-10.pdf) is a bi-weekly window into the Nationals farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news.

This Week’s Top Headline

MOORE COWBELL: On Monday, Potomac 1B Tyler Moore was named MiLB.com Single-A Carolina League Player of the Week for the second consecutive week (July 12-18 & July 19-25). During the two award-winning “weeks”, he hit a combined .481 (25-for-52) with seven homers, 10 doubles, 26 RBI and a 1.077 slugging percentage in 13 games. Moore’s 34 doubles are tied for tops in all of Minor League baseball, while his 53 extra-base hits are tied for fifth in MiLB. Moore, Washington’s 16th-round pick from the 2008 Draft, leads the Carolina League in doubles, homers (17) and RBI (73).

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

54-50, 2nd Place, 6.0 Games Behind

WHERE THERE’S A WILKIE, THERE’S A WAY: RHP Josh Wilkie, who played collegiately at nearby George Washington University, has allowed just three earned runs over 23.2 innings (1.14 ERA) in 19 appearances (one start) beginning June 1. Wilkie, 26, owns a 1.64 ERA in 37 appearances (one start) overall. In 49.1 innings of work, he has allowed just one home run, fanned 39 (7.1 K’s per 9.0 innings) and has posted a .218 BAA.

GET OUT OF MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CARR!: In his Triple-A debut last night, RHP Adam Carr struck out four in 2.2 scoreless innings. Carr, 26, was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to Syracuse on Monday. In 36 appearances with Harrisburg, Carr posted a 3.04 ERA and recorded 48 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched (8.58 strikeouts per 9.0 innings). Washington selected Carr with its 18th-round pick in the 2006 Draft.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Western Division

52-53, 4th Place, 9.0 Games Behind

DON’T MISS CHRIS: 1B Chris Marrero is batting .352 (64-for-193) with 12 doubles, five homers, 30 RBI and 27 runs scored in 53 games beginning June 1. The right-handed hitting slugger has reached base safely via hit (64), walk (19) or HBP (two) 85 times (1.6 times per contest) during that stretch. In 104 games overall, Marrero is batting .292 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs and 59 RBI. The 22-year-old was the Nationals’ top selection (15th overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

SHOWING HIS FEATHERS: In his Double-A debut earlier this afternoon, RHP Brad Peacock fired 7.0 shutout innings of two-hit, five-strikeout ball vs. New Hampshire (Blue Jays). At the time of his July 26 promotion from Potomac to Harrisburg, Peacock ranked second in the Carolina League with 118 strikeouts. Earlier this season, he earned MiLB.com Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors for the period of July 5-11. The 22-year-old was drafted by Washington in the 41st round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

MARTIN PAYNE: In his first domestic season as a pro, RHP Rafael Martin has enjoyed immediate success. Martin has gone 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA and a .207 BAA in 38 appearances en route to earning a 2010 mid-season Eastern League All-Star selection. After struggling during the month of May (4.85 ERA in 11 apps.), he has posted a 2.67 ERA (9 ER/30.1 IP) in 20 appearances beginning June 2. Martin signed with the Nationals as a minor-league free agent, February 25, 2010.

CHUCKY DOLL:LHP Chuck James is 5-0 with a minuscule 0.91 ERA in 13 games (two starts). He’s offered scoreless relief in 12 of 13 appearances, and has fired 11.0 straight scoreless innings. With 31 strikeouts and just two walks in 29.2 innings, James has posted a 15.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 9.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. James signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent prior to the 2010 season.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

First Half – 31-39, 3rd Place, 10.0 Games Behind

Second Half – 17-14, 2nd Place, 2.0 Games Behind

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES: In his 2nd Carolina League start, LHP Dan Rosenbaum tossed 8.0 scoreless innings of five-hit ball to earn the win, Monday at Wilmington (Royals). Since joining Potomac on July 20, the southpaw is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP) and a .182 BAA (8-for-44). Before his promotion, he recorded a 2.37 ERA (27 ER/102.2 IP) in 18 starting assignments with Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Overall, Rosenbaum has posted an impressive 2.18 ERA in 20 combined starts with Potomac and Hagerstown. Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH).

EVEN STEPHEN: 2B Stephen Lombardozzi ranks among the top 10 Carolina League hitters in runs scored (t-1st, 66), triples (t-1st, nine), walks (5th, 46), hits (6th, 114), stolen bases (7th, 19), OBP (9th, .371) and total bases (10th, 161). The 2009 mid-season Single-A South Atlantic League All-Star finished second in the SAL in both runs scored (90) and hits (147) last season. Lombardozzi was a 19th-round pick in the 2008 Draft out of St. Petersburg JC (FL).

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

First Half – 36-34, 3rd Place, 6.0 Games Behind

Second Half – 12-20, 7th Place, 9.0 Games Behind

JUSTIN CASE YOU MISSED IT:1B Justin Bloxom continues to be one of the SAL’s best offensive players, as he ranks among the top five SAL batters in hits (2nd, 121), doubles (3rd, 28), total bases (2nd, 187), RBI (4th, 66) and batting average (5th, .307). He’s posted 33 multi-hit games, including 11 three-hit efforts. The 22-year-old Kansas State University product was Washington’s 11th-round pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

GOOD WOOD: Including a 12-game hitting streak along the way, 2B Jeff Kobernus has hit safely in 23 of 27 games dating to June 29th, raising his batting average 37 points (.251 to .288). During that span, the UC-Berkeley product has hit at a .352 (38-for-108) clip with nine doubles, one homer, 23 RBI, 19 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Kobernus began the 2010 season rated as the No. 7 prospect in the Washington system according to Baseball America. He was selected in the 2nd round (50th overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Short-Season Single-A Vermont Lake Monsters

New York-Penn League Stedler Division

23-14, 1st Place, 3.0 Games Ahead

21-HIT SALUTE: Before going 0-for-2 on Monday, C/DH David Freitas hit safely in a Vermont team-record 21 straight games. During the 21-game tear, he posted 12 multi-hit efforts and batted .425 (34-for-80). His .373 batting average is second-best in the NY-Penn League. The 21-year-old was selected in the 15th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Hawaii.

BLAKE IS LIVELY:INF Blake Kelso, selected in the 10th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, is hitting .327 with four doubles, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in 27 contests. The University of Houston product has hit safely in 21 of 27 games as a pro.

Gulf Coast League Nationals

Gulf Coast League East Division

12-19, 5th Place, 8.5 Games Behind

YO, ADRIAN!:SS Adrian Sanchez continues to be one of the GCL’s top hitters, ranking among league leaders in average (2nd, .361), OPS (2nd, .920), doubles (t-4th, nine), homers (t-3rd, three) and runs scored (t-4th, 20). Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the switch-hitting shortstop was signed by the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent before the 2007 season.

BILLY THE KID: RHP Billy Ott hasn’t allowed a run since his professional debut, firing 18.0 consecutive scoreless innings beginning June 27. He’s allowed just one earned run in 19.0 IP (0.47 ERA) overall. He’s fanned 15 and walked just two. Ott, 22, has worked 3.0 or more innings in four of his appearances. He was signed by Washington as a non-drafted free agent on June 17, 2010 after completing his college career at Cal State Northridge.

HANDY RANDY:OF Randolph Oduber has hit safely in 13 of 15 games this season…he is 24-for-63 (.381) with three doubles, three triples, three home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored and a 1.095 OPS. Oduber was selected in the 32nd round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Western Oklahoma State Junior College.

The Nationals Minor League report (MLR 6-30-10.pdf) is a weekly window into the Nationals farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news.

This Week’s Top Headline

HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR!: The Harrisburg Senators, in conjunction with the Double-A Eastern League, yesterday announced the rosters for the 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game being played on Wednesday, July 14 at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, PA. The Senators had six players selected: SS Danny Espinosa, 1B Chris Marrero, RHP Rafael Martin, INF Michael Martinez, LHP Tom Milone and C Jhonatan Solano. Additionally, Harrisburg Manager Randy Knorr and his staff will lead the Western Division squad.

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

45-35, 2nd Place, 0.5 Game Behind

THE JOSHUA TREE: RHP Josh Wilkie, who played collegiately at nearby George Washington University, has allowed just one earned run in 12.0 innings (0.75 ERA) in 10 June appearances. He’s fanned 13 and walked only two in that span. Wilkie owns a 1.67 ERA in 28 appearances overall. The 25-year-old has limited opponents to a team-best .194 (25-for-129) batting average against. Wilkie signed with the club as a non-drafted free agent on June 14, 2006.

ATA(HUALPA) BOY: In 10 appearances beginning May 31, LHP Atahualpa Severino has tossed 13.1 consecutive scoreless innings. Overall, Severino is 3-0 with a 2.68 ERA in 29 appearances. Severino, 25, signed as a non-drafted free agent on February 13, 2004.

TAKING IT TO THE MAX: OF Justin Maxwell is batting .300 (30-for-100) with four doubles, three homers, 10 RBI, five stolen bases and 12 walks in 29 games during June. Maxwell hit .121 with one homer and three RBI in 21 games at the Big League level this season with Washington before being optioned to Syracuse on April 28.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Western Division

38-40, 3rd Place, 11.5 Games Behind

JOHNNY ON THE SPOT: LHP John Lannan allowed just four hits in 7.0 innings of one-run ball in his first start with the Senators. Lannan, Washington’s Opening Day starter this season, was optioned to Harrisburg on June 21 after going 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA in 14 starts with the Nationals. Lannan is scheduled to make his second Double-A start, tonight at Portland (Red Sox).

UH-OH, HERE COMES MARRERO: 1B Chris Marrero has hit safely in 34 of his last 42 games, batting at a .341 (56-for-164) clip with eight doubles, eight homers and 26 RBI. The right-handed hitting slugger has reached base safely via hit (56), walk (12) or HBP (1) 69 times (1.61 times per contest) during that stretch. He is 37-for-101 (.366) in 27 games during the month of June. In 78 games this season, Marrero is hitting .290 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBI. The 21-year-old was the Nationals’ top selection (15th overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

CLEAN COLE:RHP Cole Kimball is a combined 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA in 31 appearances with Harrisburg and Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League. He’s offered scoreless relief in 25 of his 31 games. Since being promoted to Harrisburg on May 27, Kimball is 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) and a .143 BAA (10-for-70) in 12 appearances. The 24-year-old began the season with Potomac, where he went 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA (5 ER/24.2 IP) in 19 appearances. Kimball was Washington’s 12th-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Centenary College (NJ).

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

First Half – 31-39, 3rd Place, 10.0 Games Behind

Second Half – 2-3, 4th Place, 1.5 Games Behind

SHOWING HIS FEATHERS: RHP Brad Peacock‘s 101 strikeouts lead the Carolina League and rank fifth in Minor League baseball. With 101 strikeouts and just 20 walks in 81.0 innings pitched, Peacock has posted a 5.0/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 11.22 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. Peacock is scheduled to toe the rubber tonight at Winston-Salem (White Sox). The 22-year-old was drafted by Washington in the 41st round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

EVEN STEPHEN: 2B Stephen Lombardozzi ranks second in the CL in runs scored (54), triples (7) and walks (40). He also ranks among the league leaders in hits (7th, 84), stolen bases (7th, 15) and OBP (7th, .385). The 2009 mid-season Single-A South Atlantic League All-Star finished second in the SAL in both runs scored (90) and hits (147) last season. Lombardozzi was a 19th-round pick in the 2008 Draft out of St. Petersburg JC (FL).

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

First Half – 36-34, 3rd Place, 6.0 Games Behind

Second Half – 2-4, 5th Place, 3.0 Games Behind

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES: In his last nine starts, LHP Dan Rosenbaum owns a 1.94 ERA (11 ER/51.0 IP). Despite his 2.14 ERA in 15 starts overall, Rosenbaum hasn’t earned a win since his season debut on April 8. Among South Atlantic League pitchers, he is sixth in ERA. Earlier this month, the southpaw was named a South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star. In addition to the All-Star selection, he was the MiLB.com SAL Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 10-16. Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH).

JUSTIFIED:1B Justin Bloxom continues to be one of the SAL’s best offensive players, as he ranks among the top five SAL batters in hits (2nd, 95), total bases (2nd, 146), batting average (3rd, .322), doubles (3rd, 25), runs scored (4th, 50) and RBI (5th, 51). Bloxom, a 2010 SAL mid-season All-Star selection, has posted an organization-best 26 multi-hit games. The 22-year-old Kansas State University product was Washington’s 11th-choice in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

CLEGGO MY EGGO: LHP Mitchell Clegg, who began the season pitching in relief, is 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 games (8 starts). Since moving to the starting rotation on May 12, he is 5-1 with a 1.37 ERA (7 ER/46.0 IP) in eight starts. The 23-year-old has allowed one earned run or less in seven of those eight (87%) starting assignments. In four June outings, he is 2-1 with a miniscule 0.38 ERA (1 ER/24.0 IP). Clegg, a 2009 New York-Penn League All-Star, was selected in the 21st round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Short-Season Single-A Vermont Lake Monsters

New York-Penn League Stedler Division

9-3, 1st Place, 2.0 Games Ahead

SWYN MOVE:RHP Matt Swynenberg has allowed just one earned run in 10.0 innings (0.90 ERA) in his first two starts of the 2010 campaign. In his season debut, he fired 5.0 shutout innings on one-hit ball to earn the win against Lowell (Red Sox). Swynenberg was selected by the Nationals in the 28th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

BLAKE IS LIVELY:SS Blake Kelso, selected in the 10th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, is hitting .357 with two doubles and three RBI in eight contests. The University of Houston product has hit safely in five of the last six games.

JORDAN BRAND:RHP Taylor Jordan, 21, is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts this season. He’s fanned 14 and walked three (4.6/1 SO/BB ratio). The Merritt Island, FL native was drafted by Washington in the 9th round of the ’09 Draft.

BOBBY’S WORLD: In 10.1 innings (3 games, 2 starts), LHP Bobby Hansen has 17 strikeouts against 0 walks. His strikeout total is second-best in the league, and he’s averaging 15.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. Hansen was selected by the Nationals out of Lewis-Palmer High School (CO) in the 18th round of the 2008 Draft.

Gulf Coast League Nationals

Gulf Coast League East Division

2-6, 5th Place, 3.5 Games Behind

MANNO MAN: In three appearances to start the season, LHP Christopher Manno has allowed just one unearned run on two hits while striking out 10 batters in 4.2 innings. Manno, 21, paces all GCL hurlers with an average of 19.29 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. The Duke University product was a 26th-round pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

CRAZY EIGHT:SS Adrian Sanchez has opened the 2010 GCL season with an eight-game hitting streak. His 14 hits pace the GCL, while his .424 batting average ranks fourth. Sanchez has collected three doubles, one home run, three RBI and eight runs. Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the switch-hitting shortstop was signed by the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent prior to the 2007 season.

OLIVER’S TWIST: 1B Tyler Oliver has hit safely in 5 of 7 GCL games, with 3 multi-hit efforts in those contests. Overall, he is 8-for-22 (.364) with two doubles, five RBI, and three runs scored to begin his pro career. Selected in the 35th round in 2010 out of Wabash Valley Community College (IL), Oliver led all Warriors in hitting in 2010 with a .456 average (88-for-193), 19 doubles, 30 home runs and 103 RBI.

The Nationals Minor League report (MLR 6-2-10.pdf) is a weekly window into the Nationals farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news.

This Week’s Top Headline

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF: In ten combined starts with Triple-A Syracuse and Double-A Harrisburg, RHP Stephen Strasburg is 6-2 with a 1.43 ERA. Strasburg’s stingy .157 batting average against is the second lowest in the Minor Leagues among starting pitchers. With 60 strikeouts and 12 walks in 50.1 innings pitched, Strasburg owns a 5.0/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and averages 10.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. In five Triple-A starts with Syracuse, he is 3-1 with a 1.27 ERA (4 ER/28.1 IP). Prior to joining Syracuse, Strasburg went 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER/22.0 IP) in five starting assignments with Harrisburg. Strasburg is scheduled to make his final Triple-A start tomorrow at Buffalo (Mets).

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

30-21, 2nd Place, 0.5 Game Back

SAVE-A-LOT: RHP Joel Peralta‘s 16 saves in as many opportunities rank second in the International League and third in the Minor leagues. In 21 appearances, he is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA (2 ER/24.0 IP). Peralta last allowed an earned run on April 30 at Toledo (Tigers), or 33 days ago. The Bonao, Dominican Republic native has fanned 30 in 24.0 innings, an average of 11.25 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. Peralta was signed by Washington as a Minor-League free agent on December 15, 2009.

START ME UP:RHP Jeff Mandel is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA (5 ER/23.1 IP) in four starts with Syracuse. Mandel began the season in Harrisburg, where he posted a 3.83 ERA (17 ER/40.0 IP) in seven outings. Mandel, 25, was a 2009 Single-A Carolina League All-Star last season with Potomac. Following the season, Mandel played with the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the highly-acclaimed Arizona Fall League.

THRILL OF THE CHASE: 2B/3B Chase Lambin‘s .318 batting average paces Washington farmhands, ranks fourth in the International League and 13th among Triple-A hitters. He has hit safely in 38 of 48 games overall. Lambin signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent on January 7, 2010.

RHP Joel Peralta – went a perfect 11-for-11 in saves and did not allow an earned run in 13.0 innings of work.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Southern Division

26-26, 4th Place, 8.5 Games Back

MY, OH MEYERS: RHP Brad Meyers,Washington’s 2009 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, is 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA (4 ER/28.2 IP) and a .194 BAA (20-for-103) in five starts. He’s fanned 33 and walked only five (6.6/1 SO/BB ratio). The 24-year-old has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his five starts. Meyers was selected in the 5th round of the 2007 Draft out of Loyola Marymount University (CA).

THE BIG PAHUTA & DR. KIMBALL:1B/3B Tim Pahuta and RHP Cole Kimball were promoted from Single-A Potomac to Harrisburg on May 27. In just his fourth career game at the Double-A level, May 30 at Erie (Tigers), Pahuta blasted two home runs (11,12). At the time of his promotion, he led the Carolina League with a .593 slugging percentage. Including 4.0 scoreless frames in three appearances since joining the Senators, Kimball has fired a combined 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings (13 appearances) with Harrisburg and Potomac. He’s offered scoreless relief in 20 of 22 appearances overall. The 24-year-old out of Centenary College (NJ) was Washington’s 12th-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Brad Meyers – went 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA (4 ER/28.2 IP) and a .194 BAA (20-for-103) in five starts.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

23-29, T-2nd Place, 6.0 Games Back

BURGESS KING:OF Michael Burgess recorded 31 RBI in May, third most in the Minor Leagues during the month. The left-handed hitting slugger ranks second in the Carolina League in RBI (40) and walks (27). He has hit safely in 24 of his last 31 games, going 37-for-120 (.308) with 11 doubles, five homers and 33 RBI. The strong-armed outfielder is tied for fourth in the Carolina League with five outfield assists. Burgess, a 2-time Minor League All-Star (2008, ’09), was drafted by Washington in the sandwich round (49th overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

IN LEHMAN’S TERMS:RHP Patrick Lehman struck out a season-high eight in 5.1 innings to earn his third win of the season, May 30 vs. Salem (Red Sox). The 6’6″ righty from George Washington University ranks among CL leaders in strikeouts (fourth, 55) and K/9.0 IP for starters (fourth, 9.66)…Lehman was selected by Washington in the 13th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

SCORING RUNS IS FUN: 2B Stephen Lombardozzi ranks among the top five CL hitters in runs scored (t-second, 37), triples (third, five), walks (t-fourth, 25) and hits (t-fifth, 59). The 2009 mid-season Single-A South Atlantic League All-Star finished second in the SAL in both runs scored (90) and hits (147) last season. Lombardozzi was a 19th-round pick in the 2008 Draft out of St. Petersburg JC (FL).

RHP Patrick Lehman – in six games (five starts), went 3-1 and struck out 33 in 31.2 innings.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

28-25, 3rd Place, 5.0 Games Back

CULTIVATON OF ROSENBAUM: In his last five starts, LHP Dan Rosenbaum has allowed just four earned runs in 29.0 innings (1.24 ERA). He has 25 strikeouts against just three walks (8.3/1 SO/BB ratio) in that span. Despite his 1.87 ERA (13 ER 62.2 IP) in 11 starts, Rosenbaum hasn’t earned a win since his season debut on April 8. The southpaw was the MiLB.com South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 10-16. Among South Atlantic League pitchers, he is tied for sixth in ERA and tied for seventh in WHIP (1.01). Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH).

HOLDING HIS OWN: RHP Trevor Holder has won four of his last five starts, going 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA (7 ER/31.0 IP). He’s struck out 20 and has issued just two walks in those contests. Overall, he is 4-2 with a 3.13 ERA in nine starting assignments. The former Georgia Bulldog has allowed two earned runs or less in seven of those starts. Holder, 23, was Washington’s 3rd-round pick in the ’09 Draft.

Hagerstown Player and Pitcher of the Month – May

3B Steve Souza – led the team in homers (five), RBI (26) and slugging (.505) during the month.

RHP Trevor Holder – went 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA (11 ER/36.0 IP) with 22 strikeouts and just two walks in six starts.

The Nationals Minor League report (MLR 5-19-10.pdf) is a weekly window into the Nationals farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news.

This Week’s Top Headline

AND THE AWARD GOES TO…: Hagerstown LHP Dan Rosenbaum was named Single-A South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week by MiLB.com for the period of May 10-16. In two starts during the week, the southpaw tossed 14.0 scoreless innings, struck out 13, walked none and allowed only eight hits to garner the award. Overall, Rosenbaum is 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA (9 ER/47.0 IP) in eight starts. The 22-year old has 41 strikeouts against only seven walks (5.85/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and among Single-A South Atlantic League pitchers, he ranks fifth in ERA and tied for sixth in WHIP (0.94). Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH).

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

21-15, 2nd Place, 1.0 Game Back

CHIEF OF STAFF: After having his start rained out yesterday, RHP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his third Triple-A start tonight at 7:05 p.m. in the second game of today’s day-night doubleheader at Rochester (Twins). Strasburg has earned the win in each of his two Triple-A starts, tossing a combined 12.0 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. In seven combined starts with Syracuse and Double-A Harrisburg, he is 5-1 with a 1.06 ERA (4 ER/34.0 IP). Strasburg’s stingy .120 (14-for-116) batting average against is the lowest in minor league baseball among starting pitchers. Prior to joining Syracuse, he went 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER/22.0 IP) in five starts with Harrisburg.

***MASN will televise Stephen Strasburg’s third Triple-A start tonight on tape delay immediately following the conclusion of Nats Xtra.

HAIL TO VICTOR:LHP Victor Garate was promoted to Syracuse yesterday after dominating hitters in the Double-A Eastern League. Garate posted a miniscule 0.51 ERA (1 ER/17.2 IP), a .119 (6-for-52) batting average against and went 4-for-4 in save opportunities in 14 appearances with Harrisburg. Garate hasn’t allowed a run since his season debut on April 9, hurling 16.2 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 13 appearances and opposing left-handed batters are just 2-for-19 (.105) against him. Garate was acquired off waivers from Los Angeles-NL on September 2, 2009.

JOEL THE PROPHET: RHP Joel Peralta is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA (2 ER/17.0 IP) in 14 appearances. His nine saves in as many opportunities are tied for second in the International League and tied for sixth in minor league baseball. The Bonao, Dominican Republic native has fanned 20 in 17.0 innings, an average of 10.55 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. Peralta was signed by Washington as a minor-league free agent, December 15, 2009.

ATA(HUALPA) BOY: Since surrendering 3 earned runs in 0.1 inning in his season debut, LHP Atahualpa Severino has allowed only two earned runs in his last 18.1 innings (11 appearances). Overall, Severino is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA (5 ER/18.2 IP) in 15 appearances. Severino, 25, signed as a non-drafted free agent, February 13, 2004.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Southern Division

18-20, 4th Place, 4.5 Games Back

TOMMY GUN: On Sunday vs. New Britain (Twins), LHP Tom Milone allowed one run in 7.1 strong innings to earn the ‘W’ for the third straight start…in four May starting assignments, he is 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA (6 ER/23.2 IP). Overall, the 23-year-old southpaw is 4-1 with a 3.14 ERA (15 ER/43.0 IP) and a 5.66/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (34 SO/6 BB). Milone, selected in the 10th round of the ’08 Draft out of the University of Southern California, led Washington farmhands with 12 wins last season.

EAZY-E:RHP Erik Arnesen allowed three runs in 7.0 innings to pick up his second straight win, last night vs. Reading (Phillies). Overall, Arnesen is 2-2 with two saves and a 2.43 ERA (8ER/29.2 IP) in 12 games (four starts). Arnesen, who has spent the majority of his pro career as a starter, began the season as a reliever before moving into the Sens’ rotation in early May. In four starts this season, he is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA (8 ER/21.0 IP). The Grove City College (NJ) product has also enjoyed success coming out the bullpen for Harrisburg, posting a 1.72 ERA (3 ER/15.2 IP) in eight appearances. Arnesen was selected by the Nationals in the 17th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

DUDE, WHERE’S MY CARR?:RHP Adam Carr is 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA (6 ER/18.1 IP) in 13 appearances. The Oklahoma State University product has struck out 18 and walked only one. Carr has worked at least 2.0 innings in six of his 13 appearances. The 26-year-old was Washington’s 18th-round selection in the 2006 Draft.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

17-22, 2nd Place, 7.0 Games Back

BE LIKE MIKE:OF Michael Burgess has hit safely in 16 of his last 19 games, going 24-for-70 (.342) with nine doubles, four homers and 24 RBI. In 36 games overall, Burgess is batting .297 with 13 doubles, four home runs, 31 RBI and 22 walks. The strong-armed outfielder is tied for fourth in the Carolina League with four outfield assists. Burgess, a two-time Minor League All-Star (2008, ’09), was drafted by Washington in the sandwich round (49th overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

NOT SO TINY TIM:1B/3B Tim Pahuta leads the Carolina League with a .626 slugging percentage. The Seton Hall product ranks among the CL leaders in homers (second with nine), OPS (fifth, .973) and total bases (seventh, 72). Pahuta was selected by Washington in the 18th round of the 2005 Draft.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

20-18, 4th Place, 2.5 Games Back

DESTINY’S CHILD: 20-year-old OF Destin Hood is tied for fourth in the league with 47 hits and ranks sixth with a .331 batting average. Hood paces Washington farmhands in both batting average and hits. He has hit safely in 29 of 37 games overall… Hood, selected in the second round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, opened the 2010 campaign rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Nationals chain according to Baseball America.

HOLDER STEADY: In his last three starts, RHP Trevor Holder is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA (4 ER/19.0 IP). He’s struck out 14 and hasn’t issued a walk in those contests. Overall, he is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in eigth starting assignments. The former Georgia Bulldog has allowed two earned runs or less in six of those starts. Holder, 23, was Washington’s third-round pick in the ’09 Draft.

The Nationals Minor League report (The MLR 5.12.10.pdf) is a weekly window into the Nationals farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news.

This Week’s Top Headline

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF: Syracuse RHP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his second Triple-A start tonight at 7:05 p.m. vs. Norfolk (Orioles). In his Triple-A debut last Friday, Strasburg fired 6.0 shutout innings of one-hit ball to earn the win. In six combined starts with Syracuse and Double-A Harrisburg, he is 4-1 with a 1.29 ERA (4 ER/28.0 IP). Strasburg’s stingy .143 (14-for-98) batting average against is the second lowest in Minor League baseball among starting pitchers. Prior to joining Syracuse, he went 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER/22.0 IP) in five starts with Harrisburg.

***MASN will televise Stephen Strasburg’s 2nd Triple-A start tonight on tape delay immediately following the conclusion of the Orioles-Mariners game.

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

18-12, 1st Place, 1.0 Game Ahead

DR. DREW: In 11 combined appearances with Syracuse and Double-A Harrisburg, RHP Drew Storen owns a 1.23 ERA (2 ER/14.2 IP) and a 14.0/1 strikeout-to walk ratio (14 SO, 1 BB). Since joining Syracuse on April 29, he has allowed one earned run over 5.1 innings pitched (1.69 ERA) in four appearances. Storen was Washington’s 2nd selection in the first round (10th overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft and went 4-for-4 in save opportunities and recorded a 0.96 ERA (1 ER/9.1 IP) in seven appearances with Harrisburg.

JOEL THE PROPHET: RHP Joel Peralta is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA (2 ER/14.1 IP) and a .184 (9-for-49) batting average against in 12 games. His eight saves in as many opportunities are tied for second in the International League and tied fifth in Minor League baseball. The Bonao, Dominican Republic native has fanned 16 and walked three, an average of 10.29 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and only 1.93 walks per 9.0 innings. Peralta was signed by Washington as a Minor League free agent on December 15, 2009.

THRILL OF THE CHASE: 2B/3B Chase Lambin‘s .343 batting average paces Washington farmhands and ranks fourth in Minor League baseball among switch hitters. He has hit safely in nine straight games and 23 of 27 games overall. Lambin signed with Washington as a Minor League free agent on January 7, 2010.

ATA(HUALPA) BOY: Since surrendering three earned runs in 0.1 inning in his season debut, LHP Atahualpa Severino has allowed only one earned run in his last 15.0 innings (11 appearances). Overall, Severino is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA (4 ER/15.1 IP) in 12 appearances. Severino, 25, signed as a non-drafted free agent on February 13, 2004.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Southern Division

13-19, 5th Place, 7.5 Games Back

VICTOR’S SECRET:LHP Victor Garate has hurled 14.2 consecutive scoreless innings in his last 11 appearances. The 25-year-old owns a 0.57 ERA (1 ER/15.2 IP) in 12 games. His .115 (6-for-52) BAA ranks 8th among all Minor League pitchers and opposing left-handed batters are just 1-for-15 (.100) against him. Garate was acquired off waivers from Los Angeles-NL on September 2, 2009.

TOMMY BOY: Last night at Altoona (Pirates), LHP Tom Milone pitched 5.0 innings of two-run ball in sleet and snow to earn his third win of the season. In three May starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA (5 ER/16.1 IP). Overall, the 23-year-old southpaw is 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA (14 ER/35.1 IP) and a 5.0/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (30 SO/6 BB). Milone, selected in the 10th round of the ’08 Draft out of the University of Southern California and he led Washington farmhands with 12 wins last season.

START ME UP:RHP Jeff Mandel allowed two runs and three hits in 7.1 strong innings on Sunday vs. Richmond (Giants). In six starts with Harrisburg, Mandel owns a 3.82 ERA (14 ER/33.0 IP). Mandel, 25, was a 2009 Single-A Carolina League All-Star last season with Potomac and following the season, Mandel played with the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the highly-acclaimed Arizona Fall League.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

14-18, 3rd Place, 6.0 Games Back

BURGESS KING:OF Michael Burgess is 15-for-44 (.341) with six doubles, three homers, 15 RBI, eight walks and eight runs in his last 12 contests. In 31 games overall, Burgess is batting .286 with 10 doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI and 20 walks. The strong-armed outfielder is third in the Carolina League with four outfield assists. Burgess is a two-time Minor League All-Star (2008, ’09) and was drafted by Washington in the sandwich round (49th overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

DR. KIMBALL:RHP Cole Kimball leads the club with three wins and is a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities. In 13 appearances, Kimball is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA (5 ER/18.1 IP). Left-handed hitters are just 2-for-22 (.091) against him. The 24-year-old was Washington’s 12th-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

16-15, T-3rd Place, 3.5 Game Back

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES:LHP Daniel Rosenbaum struck out eight in 7.0 shutout innings of four-hit ball but received a no-decision on Monday at Augusta (Giants). In seven starts, he is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA (9 ER/40.0 IP). The 22-year old southpaw has 36 strikeouts against seven walks (5.14/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio). Among Single-A South Atlantic League pitchers, he ranks ninth in ERA and tied for ninth in WHIP (1.00). Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH).

EVEN STEVEN: INF Steven Souza ranks among the South Atlantic League leaders in runs (2nd, 26), RBI (t-3rd, 26), total bases (6th, 61) and slugging percentage (8th, .530). In his last 12 games, he is 16-for-41 (.390) with four doubles, two triples, one home run, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored. He has collected six multi-hit games in those 12 contests. Souza, 21, was Washington’s 3rd-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

DESTIN(Y) IS CALLING: 20-year-old OF Destin Hood is tied for third in the league with 41 hits and ranks fourth with a .336 batting average. He has hit safely in 24 of 31 games overall. Hood was selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and opened the 2010 campaign rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Nationals chain according to Baseball America.

The Minor League Report (The MLR.pdf) is a weekly window into the Nationals farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news.

This Week’s Top Headline

ROSENBAUM IS A ROSENBAUM IS A ROSENBAUM IS A ROSENBAUM: In five starts for Hagerstown, LHP Daniel Rosenbaum is 1-0 with a 1.57 ERA (5 ER/28.2 IP). The 22-year old southpaw has struck out 25 and walked just five (5.0/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio). Among Single-A South Atlantic League pitchers, he ranks fifth in ERA and seventh in WHIP (0.94). Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH). He is scheduled to make his next start tonight at Rome (Braves).

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

15-11, 3rd Place, 1.0 Game Back

HAIL TO THE NEW CHIEF: Yesterday, RHP Stephen Strasburg was promoted to Syracuse and is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut on Friday vs. Gwinnett (Braves). Strasburg, the top overall selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, went 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER/22.0 IP) in five starts with Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. With 27 strikeouts and just six walks in 22.0 innings pitched, Strasburg posted a 4.5/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and an Eastern-League best 11.05 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.

WHAT A RELIEF: Since surrendering three earned runs in 0.1 inning in his season debut on April 8 vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies), LHP Atahualpa Severino hasn’t allowed an earned run 13.1 innings. He has tossed 10.0 consecutive scoreless innings over his last six appearances beginning on April 20. Overall, Severino is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA (3 ER/ 13.2 IP) in 10 appearances and right-handed hitters are just 4-for-28 (.143) against him this season. Severino, 25, signed as a non-drafted free agent on February 13, 2004.

DR. DREW: In nine combined appearances with Syracuse and Double-A Harrisburg, RHP Drew Storen has posted a 1.50 ERA (2 ER/ 12.0 IP) while striking out 13 and walking just one. Storen, Washington’s second selection in the first round (10th overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, went 4-for-4 in save opportunities and recorded a 0.96 ERA (1 ER/9.1 IP) in seven appearances with Harrisburg before his April 29 promotion to Syracuse.

DOUG E. FRESH: LHP Doug Slaten has fired 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings in 10 appearances to begin the season. The southpaw has 16 strikeouts against just one walk. Slaten was claimed off waivers from Arizona on November 4, 2009.

THRILL OF THE CHASE: 3B Chase Lambin leads the Chiefs in hits (28), batting (.333), home runs (5), RBI (15), total bases (49), and slugging (.583). He has hit safely in 19 of 23 games this season. Lambin signed with Washington as a Minor League free agent on January 7, 2010.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Southern Division

10-15, 5th Place, 7.5 Games Back

THE GARATE KID: LHP Victor Garate has hurled 11.2 consecutive scoreless innings in his last eight appearances. The 25-year-old owns a 0.71 ERA (1 ER/12.2 IP) and a .140 (6-for-43) batting average against and lefties are just 1-for-10 (.100) against him. Garate was acquired off waivers from Los Angeles-NL on September 2, 2009.

CHICO MEETS WORLD: LHP Matt Chico allowed two earned runs in 6.1 innings, but received a no-decision on Monday vs. Bowie (Orioles). Chico has worked at least 5.0 innings and allowed two earned runs or less in four of his five starts this season.

PITCHING IN: Harrisburg pitching ranks second in the league in both ERA (3.12) and strikeouts (189). Senators hurlers have allowed the fewest home runs (6) and fewest walks (69) among EL pitching staffs.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

11-14, 3rd Place, 4.0 Games Back

MORRIS CODE: In four starting assignments, RHP A.J. Morris boasts a 1.53 ERA (3 ER/17.2 IP) and a .197 (13-for-66) batting average against. On Monday vs. Myrtle Beach (Braves), Morris pitched 5.2 shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out five to earn his first win of the year. Morris, 23, was selected in the 4th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

DETECTIVE KIMBALL: RHP Cole Kimball leads the club with three wins and is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities. In 10 appearances, Kimball is 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA (5 ER/15.1 IP) and left-handed hitters are just 2-for-21 (.095) against him. The 24-year-old was Washington’s 12th-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

15-10, 2nd Place, 0.5 Game Back

BUILDING BLOX(OM): 1B Justin Bloxom, 22, ranks among the South Atlantic League leaders in batting average (t-2nd, .351), hits (t-3rd, 34), doubles (5th, 11), on-base percentage (6th, .413) and runs, (7th, 20). He has hit safely in 20 of 24 games, recording a multi-hit effort in 10 of those contests. The Kansas State University product was selected in the 11th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

EVEN STEVEN: 20-year-old 3B Steven Souza is tied for tops in the SAL with 23 runs, and ranks second in RBI (25). He has posted three straight multi-hit efforts, collecting seven RBI in those games. Souza was Washington’s 3rd-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

DESTIN-ED TO SUCCEED: OF Destin Hood is hitting .340 with five doubles, one triple, one homer and 15 RBI. The 20-year-old has hit safely in 19 of 25 games this season. Hood, selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, opened the 2010 campaign rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Nationals chain according to Baseball America.

TheMinor League Report (Minor League Report.pdf) is a weekly window into the Nationals farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news.

This Week’s Top Headline

DESTIN-ED TO SUCCEED: OF Destin Hood leads the Single-A South Atlantic League and ranks third in all of Minor League baseball with 22 hits. He ranks among SAL leaders in hitting (3rd, .407), total bases (4th, 29), OPS (8th, .955) and slugging percentage (10th, .537). The 20-year-old has hit safely in 12 of 13 games and is currently riding a seven-game hit streak. Hood, selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, opened the 2010 campaign rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Nationals chain according to Baseball America.

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

8-4, 1st Place, 1.0 Game Ahead

WEEKEND AT BERNADINA’S: OF Roger Bernadina has hit safely in seven of his eight games, going 12-for-36 (.333) with one double, one triple, one homer, four RBI and four steals. Bernadina had a brief one-game stint with the Nationals earlier this season before being optioned to Syracuse on April 14.

JUST DOMINANT: RHP J.D. Martin is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA (6 ER/ 18.1 IP) in three starts to begin the season. Martin was a 2009 Triple-A International League All-Star and went 5-4 with a 4.44 ERA in 15 starts at the Big League level with Washington last season. Martin is scheduled to make his next start, Saturday vs. Rochester (Twins).

THE JOSHUA TREE: RHP Josh Wilkie played collegiately at nearby George Washington University andowns a 1.35 ERA (1 ER/ 6.2 IP) in four appearances. The 25-year-old has limited opponents to a .100 (2-for-24) batting average against. Wilkie signed with the club as a non-drafted free agent on June 14, 2006.

SOLID SLATE-N: LHP Doug Slaten has tossed 7.2 scoreless innings in four appearances this season. On Monday vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies), he struck out five in 2.0 innings of relief and pocketed his first win of the 2010 campaign. For the season, the southpaw has 10 strikeouts and just one walk and lefties are just 2-for-11 (.182) against him. Slaten was claimed off waivers from Arizona on November 4, 2009.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Southern Division

5-9, 5th Place, 5.5 Games Back

EVEN STEPHEN: Earlier today vs. Reading (Phillies), RHP Stephen Strasburg allowed just one hit and struck out six in 5.0 shutout innings to earn his second win this season. Strasburg is 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA (1 ER/12.1 IP) in his first first starts as a professional. The 21-year-old hurler owns a 5.6/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (17 K/3 BB).

THE ‘PEN IS MIGHTIER: The Senators’ bullpen has allowed just eight earned runs in 53.2 innings to post a 1.34 ERA through the season’s first 13 games. The seven relievers have combined on a .178 (32-for-179) batting average against.

DR. DREW: RHP Drew Storen was Washington’s 2nd selection in the first round (10th overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft and has posted a 1.42 ERA (1 ER/6.1 IP) and a .085 BAA (2-for-21) in five appearances on the young season. He has successfully converted both of his save opportunities too. In 2009, the Stanford product went a combined 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA in 28 appearances with Harrisburg, Potomac and Hagerstown.

EAZY-E: In 10.0 innings (four appearances) this season, RHP Erik Arnesen has posted a 0.90 ERA (1ER/12.0 IP) and a .132 BAA (5-for-38). Earlier today vs. Reading, Arnesen worked a perfect inning to record his first save of the season. In 2009, Arnesen’s 12 wins finished tied for first among Washington Minor Leaguers, while his 116 strikeouts ranked second. Arnesen was selected by Washington in the 17th round of the 2006 First-year Player Draft.

GET OUT OF MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CARR: RHP Adam Carr is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA (1 ER/8.0 IP) in 5 games. The Oklahoma State University product has struck out nine and walked none. Carr has worked at least 2.0 innings in three of his five appearances. The 26-year-old was Washington’s 18th-round selection in the 2006 Draft.

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

4-8, 4th Place, 4.0 Games Back

EVAN ALMIGHTY:In his first start of the season, Sunday at Wilmington (Royals), LHP Evan Bronson tossed 5.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball to record the win. Bronson is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) in four games (one start). The 23-year-old was a short-season Single-A New-York Penn League All-Star with Vermont in 2009.

ROB’S FAB: RHP Robinson Fabian has allowed just one earned run over 7.2 innings (1.23 ERA) in two starts with the P-Nats. Fabian, 24, was acquired along with RHP Ryan Mattheus in exchange for LHP Joe Beimel on July 31, 2009.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

6-7, T-4th Place, 2.0 Games Back

EVERY ROSENBAUM HAS HIS THORN: LHP Daniel Rosenbaum is 1-0 with a 0.52 ERA (1 ER/17.1 IP) in his first three starting assignments of 2010. The 22-year old southpaw has struck out 18 and walked just three (6.0/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and his .133 (8-for-60) batting average against ranks third in the SAL, while his minuscule WHIP of 0.63 ranks fifth. Rosenbaum was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Xavier University (OH).

MULTI-HIT MADNESS: 2B Jeff Kobernus has posted five multi-hit games in 10 starts to begin the season. Kobernus was Washington’s 2nd-round selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft and has yet to commit an error in nine starts at second base.

All the hype was around first round pick Ross Detwiler after the 2007 First-Year Player Draft for the Nationals. Fourth round pick Derek Norris (right) and fifth rounder Brad Meyers (left) went under the radar. They’re not under the radar anymore. The two of them made a name for themselves with the impressive numbers they produced this year.

The 2009 Minor League season is in the books and the awards have been handed out. The Nationals named Norris, a catcher, as their Minor League Player of the Year and Meyers, a right-handed pitcher, as their Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

They join John Lannan (2007), Jordan Zimmermann (2008), Justin Maxwell (2007) and Leonard Davis (2008) as past recipients of the awards. Three of the four are with the Nationals right now and Davis finished the season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.

The Goddard, Kansas native, Norris turned down a scholarship to play at Wichita State and signed with the Nationals in 2007. He hit .286 with 30 doubles, 23 home runs, 84 RBI and 78 runs scored in 126 games with the Single-A Hagerstown Suns this season. He paced full-season Washington farmhands in home runs, walks (90), on-base percentage (.413), slugging percentage (.513) and OPS (.926).

The player of the year award adds to the laundry list of accolades the 20-year-old has received this year. The right-handed hitting slugger earned both midseason and postseason South Atlantic League All-Star honors. Last week, Norris was named the SAL Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. He was recently cited in Baseball America‘s annual Best Tools survey voted upon by league managers as the Best Batting Prospect and Best Power Prospect in the SAL.

On the award: I actually came up here the other day to get an x-ray for my finger and I was sitting, had a ticket to the game, and [Mark] Scialabba [Assistant Director, Player Development] came up and [Mike] Rizzo and Bob Boone were sitting there and we were just talking about the results of the x-ray and they went ahead and told me. So they told me to come back on Tuesday and not go back home yet. I haven’t really put too much thought into it. It’s been a long season so the only thing on my mind was getting out of Hagerstown and going home. It’s nice to get an award for something. You work hard and it’s nice to be rewarded for something like that.

Life in the Minor Leagues: It’s tough. You pick up different things, kind of funny things that guys do that actually work. I heard about a guy who brought one of those little chairs you put in pools, the little blow up chairs, they put that in the aisles [of the bus on long bus rides], I guess some people do that. We tried it and it ended up working all right so it wasn’t too bad.

Key to improving each year: Just sticking with the same approach and not trying to do too much, especially when you get in hitters’ counts. From the hitting aspect, you know you get in hitters’ counts, it’s most likely they’re going to have to throw something out over the plate, they’re not going to be able to nitpick the corners. So not trying to do too much with something, just taking what’s given to you.

On the Arizona Fall League: It’s the best of the best. It’s going to be nice to play against the best of the best and play at that competition level.There’sso much hype about Strasburg, it’s going to be kind of nice to meet somebody with that kind of arm. [Danny] Espinosa and [Chris] Marrero are two great ballplayers and I’m excited to be playing with them too.

On catching in the Pros: No, I’m not looking to change any positions. I think with continuous work and effort put towards catching I think I can achieve what I want to achieve behind the plate. And I know it looks a little shaky, my numbers, as far as passed balls and errors and stuff but I think that if I keep progressing from year to year I’ll achieve what I want to achieve.

Major League role model: [Matt] LeCroy and I were talking, he sees me as a Russell Martin type. Not a [Joe] Mauer though, he’s a freak of nature. No one can just go out there and hit .380 every year. I don’t see myself doing that. But if anything, Russell Martin would be my guy I idolize a lot.

What did you learn from LeCroy: Anything and everything. He’s a great guy. He has a lot of knowledge. And being a guy that caught and played a lot of positions as well, he knows the game from more than just behind the plate. So he was a great guy to have, he was a really great manager to have.

Meyers was drafted in the 14th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft by the Mets but decided to attend Loyola Marymount (CA) University. He was drafted in 2007 by the Nats. He has the prototypical projectable pitcher’s body at 6-foot-6 with a fastball in the low to mid 90s. He went 9-7 with a 4.79 ERA with the Suns in 2008. He was brilliant in 2009. He started throwing all his pitches for strikes and went a combined 11-3 with a 1.72 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) with Double-A Harrisburg and Single-A Potomac. Meyers led all full-season Minor League pitchers with a microscopic 1.72 ERA and allowed two earned runs or less 20 of 23 starts (87%) this season.

The 24-year-old went 5-1 with a 2.25 ERA (12 ER/48.0 IP) and a 3.9/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (43 K/11 BB) in nine starts with Harrisburg. Prior to his July 7 promotion to Harrisburg, Meyers dominated the Carolina League, going 6-2 with a league-best 1.43 ERA (14 ER/88.1 IP) in 15 games (14 starts) with Potomac. He was selected as a midseason Carolina League All-Star and was a two time MiLB.com Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors (May 4-10 and June 29-July 5).

On the award: It was awesome. I didn’t really expect it but and it’s nice to get an award. Obviously coming out here and standing out there for batting practice and just kind of taking the tour around here. So it’s been good. Igot the call a couple of days ago, I was kind of surprised. I was all set and ready to go home and they told me to come up here and I was pretty excited.

Life in the Minor Leagues: The toughest thing is that everything is temporary. You don’t know what you’re doing, where you’re going to be, from day to day, always sleeping in hotels and that. It’s been a good experience though.

Biggest difference between ’08 and ’09: Just repeating a consistent delivery. I started using my legs this year, got some help from the pitching coach down in Potomac. Just got my mechanics better and threw all my pitches for strikes this year.

On walking people: That’s kind of a pet peeve of mine–don’t walk people and force contact. I try to make hitters put it into play. Usually things go good when I’m doing that.

Timetable for the pros: There’s really no timetable and if you do put a timetable on it… that’s just going to make it tougher for you, more pressure. But you basically just go out and get better every day. That’s your ultimate goal to get to the Big Leagues. Whatever happens, happens and hopefully the sooner the better.

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